TUESDAY March 5, 2019
The Sin of Rebellion
“If you fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. However, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers.”
1 Samuel 12:14-15
God gave Israel some important conditions to fulfill in their relationship with Him. They were to fear the Lord, serve Him, and obey His voice, and God would be with them. The Lord made His grace and mercy available to Israel. He gave them an opportunity to repent and do what was right. However, if they chose to rebel against God, He would turn against them. Israel would not get away with their sin of rebellion.
Throughout Israel’s history, their forefathers had also been rebellious: …they [Israel]rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High(Psalm 107:11). What did Israel fail to remember? What happened to them as a result of their rebellion?
Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; they did not remember Your abundant kindnesses, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea(Psalm 106:7 NASB).
…they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; therefore He turned Himself to become their enemy, He fought against them (Isaiah 63:10 NASB).
The same problem of rebellion would be found in King Saul’s life. Samuel would rebuke Saul (1 Samuel 15:23). Do you have a problem with rebellion? Are you self-willed, doing just as you please? God is not going to put up with rebellion in your heart. Remember the Lord’s kindness, listen to His counsel, obey His voice, and do not rebel.
Surely no rebel can expect the King to pardon his treason while he remains in open revolt.
~C. H. Spurgeon~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
